South Berwick's Powderhouse Hill gives Mother Nature a boost

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Powderhouse Hill ski area made its own snow for the first time Tuesday night with snow guns borrowed from Shawnee Peak of Bridgton.

“We hope it will cover enough to keep us open and providing affordable winter recreation for the kids,” Eric Mundell, president of Friends of Powderhouse Hill and “mastermind” behind the snow-making project, said.

The hill is owned by the town and operated by volunteers. It's only 800 feet from top to the bottom, but the slope is well known and beloved, and frequented by many locals. It costs $5 for a lift ticket to use the rope tow, which is powered by a rusty 1938 Ford engine.

Powderhouse Hill got its start in the 1930s and was bought by the town in the early 90s when the property became too expensive to run privately and was put on the market. The ski area has relied on natural snow in the past, but shorter seasons and limited snowfall have forced it to be open less often, unlike slopes that have the capacity to produce their own snow.

“We had a terrible season last year and were only open 11 days total,” Jeremy Drake, volunteer at the ski area, said. “With this, we can supplement our natural snow to stay open longer.”

In years past, Shawnee Peak has held learn-to-ski days at the hill, bringing equipment and training for youngsters to learn the sport. However, the event was cancelled the past two years because of limited snow, according to Mundell. Thus, Ed Rock, the general manager at Shawnee Peak, was able to loan the guns to Powderhouse Hill to help out and keep the program alive.

“It's really beneficial for Shawnee Peak as well as for us,” said Mundell. “It's also a really great community effort.”

While the snow guns and hose were loaned, Mundell also worked with HKD Snowmakers of Natick, Mass., town officials and lots of volunteers to make the snowmaking possible.

A high-pressure water pump, made with parts from eBay and lots of hard work, takes water from a fire hydrant. The water is pumped up the hill and comes out of the snow gun as a mist, mixing with the cold air to form snow.

Residents came to watch Tuesday night around 6 p.m. as the snow began to fall onto the slope.

Powderhouse Hill hopes to use the snow guns to make snow every few months. No one knows how much snow the guns will provide or how long the process will take, as it is new concept for the volunteers.

The snow guns were brought down on Saturday, while the compressor was built over the last month or so and had to be walked a mile through town to the hill, according to Drake.

Powderhouse Hill is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. They offer skiing and snowboarding as well as an adjoining sled area. There also is a snack area to warm up.

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